Qui-Gon grunted and opened his eyes to see absolutely nothing.  He was in a dark, closed space somewhere on the planet, that much he knew for certain.  His head throbbed above his right ear and when he gingerly touched the spot he felt half-dried blood sticky in his long hair.  That would explain why he felt as if he had been in this same laying down on his side position for a while.

            Someone had used a heavy object to knock him out.

            Getting his hands underneath him, he used his upper body strength to lift himself up and tried to stand.  An intense shot of pain, starting in his left leg and traveling to his brain, caused him to fall back down.  Evidently, he had broken his leg sometime before being knocked out.

            Leaning, sweating, onto a nearby wall and forcing his leg to go straight before him, Qui-Gon searched his memory for what had happened to him.  Since his head was swimming and his vision was blurred, even in the dark, his captor or captors must have hit him extremely hard on his head to get him to go down.

            Ignoring for the moment that he couldn't remember how he got here or who had done this to him, Qui-Gon steadied his head long enough to focus into the Force to find Obi-Wan. 

            Padawan, hear me.

            Promptly, his apprentice answered, though his mental voice seemed distorted somehow.  Perhaps from Luke's appearance in the wrong time?  Forcing himself to concentrate on Obi-Wan's reply, Qui-Gon heard, I'm here, Master.  Where are you?  What happened?

            Holding his aching head in his hands, Qui-Gon said, I don't know where I am.  I have obviously been captured and have some injuries.  My leg is broken and I don't think I can walk to escape.  Focus on me to find me, Padawan.

            Obi-Wan gave him a mental nod, and suddenly Qui-Gon felt a strong presence in the Force join Obi-Wan, wherever they both were.  It must be Luke, he realized.  The other Force presence seemed strong, but at the same time diminished.  Which didn't make sense.  Did it?

            If Luke is regressing, perhaps that's what it would feel like to touch someone in the Force who was reverse aging, Qui-Gon mused.  It was an interesting thought.  And one that would have to be explored later.

            From his position on the floor, Qui-Gon glanced around to try to get a feel for his surroundings.  In the pitch blackness, hardly anything could be seen, but as his eyes adjusted and his headache began to retreat somewhat he could make out dim shapes.  A circular object that his fingers found out to be a bowl near his side was filled with lukewarm water and a lumpy object in the near corner seemed to be a stool.  The room was barely big enough for his large frame, let alone with the addition of a stool and a bowl of water.

            Sighing, the Jedi Master dipped his hands in the water and, sensing no toxins, he drank deeply from his cupped hands.  When his thirst was slacked, he gently leaned his head against the cool wall behind him and focused inward to begin the slow process of healing his head and leg.

            "I think he said he was going to West Grid Avenue," Obi-Wan mused thoughtfully.  He and Luke were standing at an intersection of streets that ran perpendicular to each other, staring at the signs.  One said 'North Grid Avenue' and the other 'West Grid Avenue'.

            Luke frowned as he looked at all the homes near them.  "But where at on West Grid Avenue?"

            Obi-Wan concentrated on his memories, using a Jedi enhancing technique to remember more clearly what was said over Qui-Gon's comlink.  "Fifty…fifty-two!"

            Luke scanned the numbers glowing on the sides of the large homes near them.  "Well, we're at the beginning then.  This street must go a long ways if it reaches 52," he commented.  "Any idea who he was going to meet?"

            Starting off in a fast trot, Obi-Wan found Luke met his pace easily.  The younger Jedi shook his head, keeping his sight mostly on the numbers on the houses as they passed them.  "No.  They just said there was a dispute that needed settling.  That's what we're here for so he left and made me stay with you for when you woke up.  Since you're a strong Jedi, I think Master Qui-Gon is afraid that with you sliding back into adolescence you'll lose your temper…and your control of the Force."

            Luke frowned as he scanned the opposite side of the street.  "He said that?"

            Feeling a surge in the Force, he quickly glanced at the younger Ben. 

            "Not exactly," Obi-Wan admitted.  "But as Master and Padawan, we have a bond through the Force that allows us to communicate quicker with each other and without having to use words.  We can feel each other's presence in the Force and we can tell when something happens to the other.  Didn't we ever establish a bond like that when I trained you?"

            Dryly, Luke answered, "Not really.  We didn't have much time together.  You seemed to teach me the barest of basics that I would need to immediately survive and left everything else out.  I became a warrior with not much room for mediation skills.  I grew close to you as a friend and mentor, but nothing like what you are describing to me now."

            Obi-Wan was silent for a few blocks, then asked, "Don't you do that with your students?  You said you have students, right?"

            Luke nodded, then caught himself because Obi-Wan probably couldn't see his movement as they watched the numbers gradually increase on both sides of the street.  "Yes, I have students, but I have had to train them as I made it up.  I looked for all sorts of clues from former Jedi but the Dark Jedi I spoke of did a good job of eliminating even their knowledge from existing.  I have an academy full of students, and a few failures that have had to be taken care of for the good of the galaxy.  I'm learning through trial and error with no guide; though now I know of this Master-Padawan bond I can look into it."

            "Who is the Dark Jedi?"

            Luke opened his mouth, but a strong prodding of the Force made him close it again.  "That, I sense, I must not tell you."

            Obi-Wan was going to answer when Luke spotted a glowing 52 on a large, three-story home across the street.  "Here," he barked out, striding across the street.

            Obi-Wan focused into the Force but could not tell if his master was near or not.  "Let's just go in and ask them nicely first about what Master Qui-Gon was doing here."

            Luke nodded.  "Best not to accuse them for fear of risking them not telling what they know at all."

            Obi-Wan lifted an eyebrow but didn't comment as the two Jedi approached the door.  As soon as their booted feet hit the doorstep, the door opened to reveal Monaray K'linonan, the other candidate for the kingship, smiling at them.

            "Ah, Jedi!" He boomed, holding out his arms in welcome.  "What are you doing here?  I thought that you would be resting with Master Jinn by now?"

            Obi-Wan frowned.  "When did Master Jinn leave your house, Candidate K'linonan?" He asked.

            Monaray K'linonan glanced quickly at Luke, standing silently in the shadows, before answering.  "Master Jinn left almost an hour ago, Padawan Kenobi.  Is this the mysterious Jedi who arrived in our air space?  I am Monaray K'linonan, a candidate to be king of Tangoria.  And you are?"

            Luke sent a warning to Obi-Wan through the Force as the apprentice Jedi was about to say his name.  Politely, Luke bowed and responded, "My name is not important, Candidate K'linonan.  Finding Master Jinn, though, is.  Do you know where he was heading when he left?"

            His eyes narrowing at Luke's refusal to reveal his name, the big man folded his arms across his chest.     "He didn't tell me but I assumed he was returning to you at the medcenter, Padawan Kenobi.  We had a mysterious caller threaten to destroy my family if I did not back down from the candidacy.  I had a staff member request Master Jinn come to try to identify the caller and after meditating for two hours, he stood and said they were not serious and to continue on my business as usual.  Anything else you need?"

            Obi-Wan shook his head 'no' and began to turn away.

            "Padawan Jedi," K'linonan called after Obi-Wan.  "Why are you asking?  Has something happened to the Jedi Master?"

            Sensing Obi-Wan was preoccupied with trying to locate Qui-Gon in the Force, Luke softly spoke up from the shadows.  "Master Jinn has been missing for nearly an hour now, Candidate K'linonan.  Obi-Wan has felt his distress and is anxious to find him.  If you think of anything else, please contact Doctor Monta at the medcenter."

            Still uncertain how to act around Luke's aloofness, K'linonan nodded.  "Sure," he agreed.  "I hope you find him.  There are some who didn't want the Jedi coming here at all during these important times and I had to use all of my pull to get the majority to agree to letting them arrive."

            Obi-Wan, snapped out of his reverie, turned.  "And who were the ringleaders of the ones who didn't want us coming?"

            K'linonan promptly stated, "Candidate Landon B'runi."